Colours of Loch Etive

Perhaps better enlarged

Loch Etive (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Eite) is a 30 km sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It reaches the sea at Connel, 5 km north of Oban. It measures 31.6 km (19 3⁄4 miles) long and from 1.2 km ( 3⁄4 mile) to 1.6 km (1 mi) wide. Its depth varies greatly, up to a maximum of 150 m (490 ft).

The River Etive drains into Loch Etive from its source near Kingshouse on Glencoe, Rannoch Moor. A small, single track road runs alongside the river for its 18km course to the loch – this road is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque roads in all of Scotland. The loch water is coloured by the presence of peat in the water of the River Etive, which enters the loch at this point, mixing with the seawater.

From 1847 a steamer service from Oban carried passengers to the now derelict pier (just visible at centre of picture) at the north end of the loch, linking to a carriage service that took tourists up Glen Etive to see Glen Coe. A later structure, located near the original jetty, can be used for the transportation of timber by sea in the form of logs harvested from the forestry on the hills in Glen Etive.

The name Etive is believed to mean "little ugly one" from the Gaelic goddess associated with the loch. It heads east for half its length alongside the main road and rail link to Oban, before heading northeast into mountainous terrain seen here. The narrow mouth of the loch results in its most unusual feature, the Falls of Lora. Part of the north bank has been designated a Special Area of Conservation in particular due to old sessile oak woods. Surprisingly, a small colony of around 20 common seals is resident in Loch Etive.